John Conroy

Sir John Conroy, 1st Baronet (* October 21, 1786, † March 2, 1854 ) was a British soldier of Irish parents, the British as administrators of the estate of Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, significant impact on the childhood and youth of the later Queen Victoria had.

Life

John Conroy was part of the environment of Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn. The Duke of Kent was one of the sons of George III. , After the death of Princess Augusta Charlotta, the heiress presumptive and only legitimate descendant of the royal family, married. From the marriage of the Duke with Victoria of Saxe- Coburg -Saalfeld emerged Princess Victoria, who was standing at the time of her birth in fifth place in the throne succession.

1820, almost eight months after the birth of his daughter, died the Duke of Kent. He made ​​such a mountain of debt that the Duchess had to turn down the legacy of her late husband. Only thanks to the financial support of her brother Prince Leopold she could continue to live at Kensington Palace in London. The Duke of Kent had John Conroy used to executors. He won a progressively increasing influence in the household of the Duchess. John Conroy is probably underestimated as an increasingly unlikely that the marriages of the older brothers of the Dukes still legitimate offspring would emerge. Princess Victoria would then follow on the British throne. Given the advanced age and poor health of William IV, this would probably take place at a time when the princess would have not reached their majority. In this case, would presumably, the Duchess of Kent in place of their daughter exercise the regency and access John Conroy about her power and influence. Yet this required also that the Duchess and her daughter would have as little contact with the British royal court.

The environment that John Conroy established for this reason is sometimes referred to as a Kensington System. The Duchess of Kent was also increasingly financially by John Conroy dependent who pledged his private fortune to help out the Duchess financially. In the household of the Duchess frequented almost exclusively selected from Conroy people. A preparation of the princess on the role of a British monarch was omitted. Governess was Louise Lehzen who was unable due to their training, to fulfill this task.

As it became increasingly obvious that the princess would have already reached its maturity in the ascension to the British throne, John Conroy tried to force the princess to signing a document in the course of 1835, the him after her accession, the appointment as private secretary to the Queen assured. The role of the private secretary in a royal household represented one of the most influential positions that could reach a commoner or Kleinadeliger at this time. With the support of their teacher Louise Lehzen defied the princess of this signature, which led to a rupture of the princess with her ​​mother.

After the accession of John Conroy was not given a post at the court of the British Queen. However, Queen Victoria could not prevent John Conroy still belonged to the court of her mother. Only two years later he gave up this office.

Rumours about the person John Conroy

The role of John Conroy's life in the later Queen Victoria and her mother has been cause for speculation repeated. This includes the rumor that the Duchess and John Conroy an affair connected with each other. There is also speculation that John Conroy was the father of the princess and not the Duke of Kent. The latter is considered very unlikely. Victoria of Saxe- Coburg -Saalfeld became pregnant immediately after marriage, as John Conroy not play a role in their lives.

Family

Conroy married in Dublin on December 12, 1808 Elizabeth Fisher (1791 - April 9, 1861 ), the daughter of Benjamin Fisher. They had five children:

• Elizabeth Jane Conroy (* May 13, 1811, † May 1, 1855 )
• Sir Edward Conroy, 2nd Baronet (* 1812, † November 3, 1869 ) ∞ Alicia Parsons ( * 1815, † January 21, 1885 )
• Arthur Benjamin Conroy (* May 7, 1813, † May 24 1817 )
• Stephen Rowley Conroy (* August 15, 1815, † September 9, 1841 )
• Victoria Maria Louisa Conroy (* August 12, 1819; † February 9, 1866 ) ∞ Sir Wyndham Edward Hanmer, 4th Baronet.